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Braving seas’ terrors, snags, women sailors complete global voyage
Panaji, May 21 (IANS) After braving eight-foot waves, hurricanes, sub-zero temperatures, broken steering gear and spending 194 days at sea, the six women crew of the Indian Naval sailing vessel ‘Tarini’ sailed into Goa on Monday as young legends, becoming the first all-women naval crew to have circumnavigated the globe.
But the Navika Sagar Parikrama expedition faced one of its biggest potential setbacks when the INSV Tarini, during the journey home, developed a technical snag with the steering gear just 2,000 miles off Goa, according to Indian Navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba.
“The crew’s tenacity was again put to test when the boat developed a defect in the steering gear. They not only carried out temporary repairs in the middle of the ocean, but sailed the boat to the nearest port, Port Louis in Mauritius, 180 miles away.
“The grit and determination displayed by the young women officers will definitely encourage future generations to take on flaunting challenges and strive for success,” Lanba said at a function held at the INS Mandovi naval base near Panaji.
Earlier, team leader Lt Commander Vartika Joshi narrated how she and her crew of Lt Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and Swati P. and Lt Aishwarya Boddapati, S. Vijaya Devi and Payal Gupta encountered and surpassed challenges in the arduous journey which began in Goa in September last year.
“Near Falkland Islands in the Pacific Ocean, we encountered hurricane force winds off Cape Horn and eight metre waves and sub zero temperature,” she said, adding that during nights the winds picked up to frightening speeds of much as 60 knots.
The team encountered and was pleasantly surprised by tiger sharks, pilot whales as they sailed through the oceans of the world which Joshi described as “an extraordinarily adventurous voyage of our lifetimes”.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.